Chapter 529: The Little Rich Girl’s Six Million

The group-buy financing was more than expected with eight top players, but a lot went into developing community group purchases and investing in Hengtong Freight.

Additionally, there were plans to acquire a stake in Gaode and significant cash flow investments in another major industry in 2012, making every penny crucial.

Initially, the group-buy had no issues with cash flow and could easily maneuver funds, but now thousands of merchants demanding payments strained its capabilities.

Thus, consumers could get refunds, but merchants could not.

“We need to take a risky move and then re-establish our public image.”

“…”

The next day brought cold dew and a sudden chill in Linchuan.

The internal system of the Group-Buy updated tasks directly assigned by the boss, leading to the deployment of ground staff at various stations to appease merchants wherever possible and pausing cooperation with others.

Such actions, though detrimental to the platform’s foundation, also gave rise to significant gossip.

People thought, “They’d rather pause cooperation than settle payments; does that mean their finances have really collapsed?”

It’s like being tied to the stake, with fire at the ankles and still kicking unburnt logs into the fire to make it burn fiercer.

Still, the Group-Buy wouldn’t open this pandora’s box to avoid a complete financial breakdown.

By dawn, temperatures had dropped, a frost had set in Linchuan University’s streets, and a light fog enveloped the campus, blocking out the morning dawn.

Jiang Qin had now resorted to early mornings and late nights; sometimes, a tank of gas only lasted three or four days.

This change, paired with a slew of recent negative news, was seen as an ominous sign by many.

“I have a feeling Jiang Qin is in real trouble this time.”

“What was he like before? Strutting around, almost walking sidewards, and now he’s up by six and hurrying off, sometimes without even washing his face.”

Zhuang Chen casually spread this information while sitting in the cafeteria.

Song Qingqing frowned upon hearing this, “How do you know he’s up by six and skips washing his face?”

“I live right next to his dorm. How could I not know?”

“So, everything online is true?”

“Flies don’t sting seamless eggs. If his finances were solid, why would there be such hot discussions about it?”

Pan Xiu suddenly intervened, “Jiang Qin has grown his business so big, some things must be hard to control, especially since he’s still a university student.”

Zhuang Chen nodded immediately, “The national market is perilous, and without strong capital to back him, isn’t a financial break just expected?”

Slap—

Just then, a hand fiercely slapped the back of his head, almost knocking him into his fried noodles.

“Why the hell do I hear barking this early in the morning?”

Cao Guangyu glared at him, “What’s with that mouth, even eating spews shit?”

Zhuang Chen clenched his chopsticks, angrily retorting to Young Master Cao, “What’s wrong? I’m speaking facts. Everyone online is saying it. Can’t I say a few words?”

“Shut your fucking mouth. Haven’t you been beaten up by Chao and Qiangzi?”

Zhuang glanced at Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang, then muttered under his breath, turning away, “A bunch of brutes, know nothing…”

Room 302’s trio just glanced at him in line then bought their meals, found a spot to sit not engaging in their usual chatter, the atmosphere instead turned tense.

“Is Brother Jiang really in trouble this time?”

“Old Jiang, that dog, if he doesn’t bite anyone that’s good enough, no need to worry about others biting him.”

After saying this, Cao Guangyu ate a few bites, but he was actually unsure himself.

Old Jiang was always particular about cleanliness, otherwise his detergent wouldn’t run out so fast, but lately, he really did leave without washing his face.

Public opinion is damn scary.

Never mind those small business operators, even in their family’s freight company, rumors were spreading, halting hiring and expansion.

True, the investments were secured, but what if the Group-Buy collapsed?

They had expanded staffing and warehouses, everything was set for the influx of orders, but with no orders and subsequent financial injections missing, that would be troublesome.

For a private company like Hengtong Freight, they’d rather forsake capital expansion without secured orders…

Cao Guangyu sighed suddenly realizing Chao was staring blankly upwards, so he asked with a puzzled expression, “What’s up? Is there a beauty on the ceiling?”

“No, just realized the school canteen hasn’t played Jiang’s news these past few days.”

“Indeed…”

“…”

Rumors are fierce because no matter the truth, their influence manages to permeate every aspect.

Just like Linchuan University, without confirmed news, they had to stop broadcasting it, just like those merchants pausing cooperation with Group-Buy, there’s no difference in motive.

Such phenomena impact many, fostering rumors to spread second, third, even fourth or fifth times.

Cao and his friends looked around, noticing many were discussing this due to Jiang’s news suddenly stopping.

“Even TVs are off, looks like what they said in the news is true…”

“The internet is a bubble industry, aren’t financial breakdowns normal…”

“Could it just be a rumor? Such a big corporation can’t be that fragile.”

“It must be true. Even though I’m an art student and don’t understand business, how could a rumor have such a huge effect? It’s clear to any discerning person.”

Cao Guangyu, Zhou Chao, and Ren Ziqiang listened to the surrounding discussions while finishing their meal, then worryingly headed towards the door only to see Feng Nanshu and Gao Wenhui.

These two were standing by the road, in front of a parked black Rolls-Royce, an elderly man in a suit, seemingly their family driver Mr. Gong, was talking to them.

Feng Nanshu looked stern and aloof while Mr. Gong appeared troubled, shaking his head repeatedly.

“What’s going on?”

“Feng Nanshu, that husband slave, wants Mr. Gong to sell her car and the villa her mom left her.”

Hearing this, Feng Nanshu turned, pulled out a bank card from her bag, and handed it to Young Master Cao, “Please give this to my brother.”

Cao Guangyu sighed looking at the card, “If Jiang’s business is in trouble, no amount of millions will solve it. Even pooling our living expenses wouldn’t help.”

“What living expenses, there’s over six million in this.”

“How much?”

“Six hundred thousand.”

Cao Guangyu gasped, eyes widening, “How can both of them screw me over, is there no law at this school?!”

Gao Wenhui ignored Cao’s rich kid syndrome, turning to Feng Nanshu, “If you sell the house and car, what will you do?”

“I’ll live at his house, ride his car. His uncle and aunt like me, and even his great-grandfather said we could be together forever.”

“His family lives that long? His great-grandfather is still around?”

Feng Nanshu paused, “No, he passed away.”

Gao Wenhui paused too, “Then how could he say you could be together forever?”

“I asked if it was okay with great-grandfather, he didn’t say no.”

“Damn, that works?”

Gao Wenhui felt Feng was strangely logical, “But what if this money isn’t enough?”

Feng Nanshu pondered then patted her chest, “No worries, I can support him.”

“This money was left by your dad before he remarried, but do you think your stepmom would allow you to touch the family wealth after spending this?”

“No problem, let brother support me.”

Feng Nanshu was quick-witted, essentially trading herself with her own money.

She didn’t have great aspirations, being with Jiang Qin was enough; money, cars, houses, none of it was that important to her.

The three onlookers were pained by this, “Damn, Old Jiang must have been a police dog in his past life, biting many vicious criminals to have met a girl like Feng Nanshu.”

“…”

Later that night, the temperature at Linchuan University dropped another degree, Jiang Qin drove back to his dorm building, then put on a coat and went upstairs.

Before this, Group-Buy had a good reputation, never defaulted on payments or sold fake products, and its image had been positive, so appeasement measures still had some effect.

But these couldn’t be dragged on indefinitely, so the entire company was tense, but meals need to be eaten one bite at a time, and matters handled step by step; being anxious wouldn’t help.

“Brothers, I’m back.”

Jiang Qin pushed open the door to find Cao Guangyu and the others watching “Yan Shuangying” on the computer, and when he entered, they didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Boss Jiang didn’t mind, pulled out a chair, and sat down, then logged into the internal system to check feedback from various stations.

Merchant attrition was severe, almost all activities were canceled…

“Old Jiang.”

“Hm?”

Cao Guangyu handed him the bank card, “This is all the money Feng Nanshu has.”

Taking the card, Jiang Qin glanced at it and remembered it was the one he borrowed during the summer after college entrance exams, he couldn’t help missing her, “This silly girl, do I really need her to support me…”

Cao spoke up again, “I know you might be a bit frustrated lately, but you can’t be so anxious you don’t even wash your face. Zhuang Chen was mocking you with this this morning, saying you’re in a rush.”

Jiang paused, “Frustrated my ass, I was out shooting. I don’t wash my face in the morning because I have to wash again before makeup, no need.”

“Shooting?”

“Group-Buy’s advertisement.”

After speaking, Jiang looked at Cao Guangyu, “By the way, there’s a sleazy-man role, you interested?”

Cao exploded, “Look at my tall and mighty figure, do I look like a sleaze, damn it?!”

“But the sleazy man is a rich kid, the scene is simple, just driving a luxury car to deliver flowers to a goddess, doesn’t even get to speak.”

“A rich kid? Since it involves playing to type, I think I might give it a try…”

“Then it’s settled! ”

Ending the conversation, Jiang turned his gaze to the bank card in his hand, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth, a warm light in his eyes.